Murray Introduces Legislation to Help Students Prepare for 21st Century Careers

(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) a senior member of the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced major
legislation to help state and regional leaders increase high school graduation
rates and prepare America’s next generation of highly skilled workers. The
landmark legislation – The Providing Innovation to 21st Century Careers Act -
provides federal funding to communities that build coalitions between
employers, schools, workforce experts, and others to give students skills to
succeed in school and careers in high-demand industries.

“As we work to
create jobs and get our economy back on track, it is more important than ever
that our students are graduating with the skills they need to succeed in a 21^st
century career,” said Senator Patty Murray. “This bill will bring
together businesses, schools, workforce and economic development experts,
labor, and the community to help students get the skills and credentials they
need for family-wage careers in their area.”

In
developing this legislation, Senator Murray worked closely with employers,
teachers and students, and workforce experts from Washington state and across
the country. She reached out to regional skill centers, labor leaders, and
schools, as well as leaders in industries like health care, construction,
aerospace, and energy.  And she heard from so many of them that wanted to
hire, but can’t find workers with the skills they need for the job. 

The
Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act helps address critical
education and workforce needs with:

• New Resources
  – Establishes $912 million in federal competitive grants that can be used
  by state and regional partnerships to help students move from high school
  to a wide array of post-secondary education options, to skilled careers.
• Strong Partnerships
  – Requires state and regional partnerships applying for funding to include
  representatives from high schools, post-secondary education, businesses,
  labor, workforce, and economic development organizations.
• Supporting Innovations – Encourages state and regional partnerships to
  develop career pathways for high school students that include counseling,
  mentoring, work-based experiences, and support to obtain degrees,
  apprenticeships, and other postsecondary credentials.
• Real Accountability
  –Incorporates measures to evaluate success of state and regional efforts,
  including reports to Congress.